It's the evening of Easter Sunday. These times are anything but normal. Our lives have been disrupted, inconvenienced and spun out of control for many. I'm not really depressed but I have been a bit overwhelmed. All the plans I had for downsizing, selling off, finding a new home and listing this one for sale have been put on hold. There is concern that the housing market may be very slow to pick back up.
So, where does that leave me? In much better shape than myriad others, that's where. I have a home, I have an income and some savings, we have lived providently and prudently so that our resources are in good shape. We have canned and stored sufficient foodstuffs and other consumables so that we have been just fine without needing to buy toilet paper, toiletries and other necessities in a frantic panic.
Very blessed is how I would describe myself this past month. Tomorrow marks my 31st day in self-quarantine. It is lonely and how blessed we are for the technology at our fingertips to remain connected to the outside world, especially with my eternal companion suffering from dementia. How I miss him even as I wait on and care for him.
All that being said, I have not lost my sense of humor. Does anyone else feel like they have cooked and prepared at least 847 meals in the past month? Can one actually die from not getting to eat in their favorite Mexican restaurant for such a prolonged period of time? (Asking for a friend.) At least we now know why toilet paper is such a premium; because so many are eating their own cooking for the first time.
The picture above is of my daughter Pat on the left and another guest at a bridal shower about a decade ago. I designed her dress 100% out of toilet paper and we won first prize. The other gal was the runner up. Jokingly we have confessed to retroactively contributing to short supply of said product.
This past week has been the holiest and most sacred week in all Christendom. How grateful I am for the technologies to make it more meaningful during this separation from other believers. Tragedies and calamities continue to befall the population of this planet. Not only the virus, but earthquakes, erupting volcanoes, tornadoes and other deadly storms and swarms of locusts are destroying the vegetation in Africa and elsewhere. Yet, there are still those who mock and disrespect and show such little compassion or understanding for others. What else will God deem necessary to get their attention? Or will He reach the point where He fulfills His promises for Christ to return to the earth because the end is so near?
"If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear," is a favorite phrase for me. It speaks truth. We were prepared by following the counsel of wise leaders who said to avoid debt, live on less than you earn, put aside a little food and other goods for hard times, etc.
Easter has been different for almost everyone this year. The apostles and disciples of Jesus Christ endured that first Easter alone. We celebrated it virtually alone but not as bereaved as they must have been because we KNOW the outcome. He is risen. The church buildings are empty . . . but so is the tomb.
Tonight there are tornado threats in our area and a very large swath of this country, however, there is peace because I know who is in control and it surely is not me. The one who created us, who loves us more than we can imagine, who gave His son for us and the Son willingly suffered unimaginable pain in our behalf is in control. Though dark clouds hang over us tonight, the Son is shining brightly above them. He can calm the storm--but when He doesn't, remember that He can calm the child and allow the storm to rage. It is He who holds our future and our fate. Choose the light.
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